Women and Cultural Identity in Select Philippine Literature in English Short Stories: A Feminist-Structuralist Study

This qualitative study employed a structuralist-feminist critical lens to analyze five (5) Philippine short stories in English written by Filipino authors— “Footnote to Youth” by Jose Garcia Villa, “How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” by Manuel Arguilla, “Magnificence” by Estrella Alfon, “The Wedding Dance” by Amador Daguio, and “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez to develop a literary toolkit validated by the experts that will aid readers and teachers in understanding and using literature from these perspectives. A literary analysis was typically performed to understand the specific ideas, word choices, or writing structures an author has made use of in his works. In the conduct of the analysis, several objectives which are of paramount importance when performing a feminist criticism were considered. In the analysis performed, the following portrayals and phenomena were observed: (1) women as wives, (2) women as doers of household chores, (3) women as subjects of objectification and sexualization, (4) women as ‘others’, and women as strong individuals. The cultural identities of Filipinos as portrayed are the key elements investigated in this study in the lens of structuralism. Specifically, this study focused on viewing culture as structure.  This study revealed certain cultural identities unique among Filipinos: adherence to tradition and social expectations, respect for elders and authority, importance of family, and connection to nature. The study concludes that Philippine literature in English short stories served as a platform for negotiating female identity and cultural heritage, offering both reinforcement and subversion of patriarchal structures. The document underscored the enduring challenges of gender representation in literature while celebrating stories that advocated for equality and empowerment, and the themes illustrated the interconnection of Filipino culture, traditions, and social structures.